O man! Control thyself. Only then can you get salvation.
If you are to fight, fight against your own desires.
Nothing will be achieved by fighting against external enemies;
if you miss this occasion, it will be lost forever.
One's own unconquered soul is one's greatest enemy.
Jainism:Tirthankaras and the Evolution of the Human Spirit
Parsvanatha
The 23rd Tirthankara |
In Jainism, there are five ideal levels of human development toward which ascetism,
prayer and practise are directed. The five levels are:
the first level known as arhats, or worthy ones. Arhatsare also known as
jinas, meaning great teachers or as tirthankaras,"the ford-makers."
At the next level down are the siddhas, or liberated souls,
who have destroyed all eight types of karmas. Siddhas are said to inhabit the uppermost reaches of the Jain cosmology.
The third level in the hierarchy of human development consists of teachers, nuns and monks who
are spiritual leaders.
The fourth level is occupied by monks, teachers and nuns who instruct monks and nuns and
the fifth level by ordinary monks.
Mantras
The Panka Namaskarais a special mantra (prayer-chant) which reveres each of the five levels of supreme beings.
This mantra, translated as "the five homages" is recited every morning
by all Jains, and used to dispel evil, cure illness and
bring good fortune.
There are numerous other mantras each designed to enhance different
activities. The Ahimsa Vikas Mantra, for instance, is recited as a way to guide
individuals along non-violent paths, while mantras such as the Jap-Sadhana Vidhi Mantra or Rang Kendra Aur Shwasochhwas Ke Saath Mahamantra Japne Ki Vidhi
are used to guide persons in their meditation practices.
Jain Ascetic |
Ascetics and the Five Great Vows
Without fixed abode, walking
from house to house as a beggar,
gleaning that which is left by other mendicants, using limited
number of utensils and avoiding quarrels and arrogant behavior in a crowd of people: this is proclaimed as the monk-like
life of the wise ones.
from the Dashavaikalika Sutra
The majority of Jainists are lay persons.
However, their identities and life styles are influenced by those who follow the more stringent practices
of Jain ascetism. These individuals,the Jain monastics take the so-called "Five Great Vows"
as a way toward ultimate liberation from the effects of karmic law. The Five Great vows are:
- Non-violence and no taking of life (Ahimsa)
- Truth (Satya)
- Non-stealing (Achaurya or Asteya)
- Celibacy and Chastity(Brahmacharya)
- Non-attachment and Non-ownership of material goods (Aparigraha)
Jain Ascetics own nothing and are homeless. Some wear no clothes and are said to be Digambaras or "sky-clad." Others known as
Shvetambaras are identified by their simple white robes.
Ascetics are also encouraged to remove all their hair and to beg for their food.They often do not even own vessels out of which to eat, but use only their hands as bowls. They are also required to eat away from
the sight of lay persons. Because of their vows against non-violence and the taking of life, lay Jains as well as monastics are usually vegetarians.
Some take the more extreme path of vegetarianism known as fruitism where only fruit, nuts and milk are consumed. Root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots
are not eaten as they are believed to draw life from the earth, and reverence for plants and trees means that plants are not included in the diet.
Other ascetic sects such as the Shvetambarasect carry their intention to do no harm to all creatures to the extent of
wearing face masks to avoid harming insects or microbes by breathing them in.
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